will refrain from

USAGE SUMMARY

"will refrain from" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to express a promise or commitment to not do something. For example, "I will refrain from eating junk food to improve my health."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

I will refrain from telling you".

The New Yorker

"Until then, I will refrain from further public comment".

The New York Times

He will refrain from hiking his favourite trails.

The Guardian

So I will refrain from endorsing that spot.

The New York Times

Therefore, we will refrain from making any public comment at this time.

The New York Times - Sports

During this time practising Muslims will refrain from consuming food or drink from dawn to sunset.

Independent

The Bagger will refrain from commenting on this until he does.

The New York Times

So I will refrain from quoting the text and quote the set instead.

The New York Times

I will refrain from reading any book reviews by Walter Kirn.

The New York Times

Odds being offered that Geldof will refrain from swearing are currently 8/1.

The Guardian

If people have any decency and respect they will refrain from anymore of this stupid NekNomination".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "will refrain from" to express a formal commitment or promise to avoid a specific action. It adds a tone of seriousness and intent.

Common error

Avoid using "will refrain from" in casual conversations. It's typically reserved for formal or serious contexts where a commitment to avoid something needs to be emphasized.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "will refrain from" functions as a modal verb phrase expressing a future intention to abstain from a particular action. As Ludwig AI confirms, it indicates a deliberate commitment to avoid something. The examples illustrate its use in formal statements and commitments.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "will refrain from" is a grammatically correct and frequently used modal verb phrase that expresses a firm commitment to avoid a particular action. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's most commonly found in news reports, scientific publications, and formal business contexts. Its formal tone makes it suitable for serious declarations and commitments, as evidenced by the numerous examples from authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian. While synonyms like "will abstain from" and "will avoid" exist, "will refrain from" carries a unique emphasis on deliberate restraint. When writing, remember to reserve this phrase for contexts that warrant a sense of seriousness and intent.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

will abstain from

Similar in meaning, but often carries a more formal or deliberate tone, implying a conscious decision to avoid something.

will avoid

A more general term for preventing something from happening or keeping away from something.

will abstain

A shorter, more emphatic way of saying will abstain from, implying a strong decision to hold back.

will hold back from

Suggests restraining oneself from an impulse or urge.

will decline to

Indicates a polite refusal to do something, emphasizing choice.

will forbear from

A more archaic and formal way to express refraining.

will cease from

Implies stopping an action that may already be in progress.

will desist from

Similar to cease, but emphasizes ending an activity, often in a legal or formal context.

will not engage in

Focuses on not participating in a specific activity or behavior.

will steer clear of

Suggests actively avoiding a potentially problematic situation or topic.

FAQs

How to use "will refrain from" in a sentence?

"Will refrain from" indicates a deliberate decision to avoid a specific action. For example, "The company will refrain from making any public statements until the investigation is complete."

What can I say instead of "will refrain from"?

You can use alternatives like "will abstain from", "will avoid", or "will decline to" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "will refrain from" or "will refrain to"?

"Will refrain from" is correct. "Refrain" takes the preposition "from" to indicate what action is being avoided. "Will refrain to" is grammatically incorrect.

What's the difference between "will refrain from" and "will avoid"?

"Will refrain from" often implies a conscious and deliberate decision to hold back, whereas "will avoid" is a more general term for keeping away from something or preventing it from happening. The former suggests more active self-control.